After notching its most successful year of exploration at the Elizabeth Gold Project in 2022, Tempus Resources Ltd (ASX:TMR, TSX-V:TMRR) is back on the ground in southern British Columbia with a 4,000-metre diamond drilling program designed to expand the project’s resource estimate.
The 2023 campaign, set to begin in early July, aims to further define the Blue Vein/No. 9 Vein, expand the Ella Zone and conduct infill drilling.
Tempus intends to incorporate high-grade finds into an updated resource estimate for Elizabeth, which has not been upgraded since it was estimated at 206,000 ounces of gold (inferred) in 2009.
Elizabeth plan view showing 2023 drill hole locations.
Bonanza grade potential
Ten new drill holes are planned for the No. 9 Vein, which will target extensions to the southwest and northeast along strike as well as the open zone between high-grade zones.
Last year, Tempus completed 10 drill holes targeting the No. 9 Vein, with five holes assaying bonanza grades of over 1 ounce of gold per tonne. One hole returned a 28.5-metre intersection, assaying 28.1 g/t gold from 84.4 metres.
The high-grade zones at No. 9 have now been demonstrated over 250 metres along strike and are open both horizontally and at depth.
More targets
Tempus completed 21 drill holes targeting the Blue Vein last year, delineating high-grade gold mineralisation over a strike distance of about 300 metres, which remains open along strike and at depth.
Eight of the Blue Vein drill holes reported assay intersections with bonanza grades of over 1 ounce gold per tonne.
The 2023 program will include 10 new drill holes to test the southern and northern extensions of the Blue Vein.
Elsewhere, two drill holes are planned to target further delineation of the extensions to the D Vein, the West Vein and the Main Vein, with one to further test the Ella Zone.
Project expansion
Additionally, Tempus will conduct a comprehensive field program to identify more brownfield targets outside of the current Elizabeth Main drilling area.
The field study will include prospecting and geological mapping and rock chip sampling of new target areas identified by 2021 geophysical surveys.
It will also include Elizabeth East, where anomalous gold was identified in soil sampling in 2019.
Detailed mapping and rock chip sampling have begun as part of the fieldwork.
“Exciting year”
Tempus Resources president and chief executive officer Jason Bahnsen said: “2023 will be an exciting year for Tempus.
“We plan on announcing the resource estimate for both Elizabeth and Blackdome projects, as well as the restart plan for the Blackdome mill.
“A 4,000-metre drilling program will target further expansion of existing veins and the identification of new veins.
“In addition, the company is conducting a detailed mapping and rock chip sampling program to ‘ground truth’ several of the brownfields targets generated by the 2021 geophysics program on the 115-square-kilometre Elizabeth property.”
Blackdome restart
Tempus intends to announce the results of the Blackdome Mill restart and expansion study completed by JDS Energy and Mining Inc and the Optimize Group Inc last year during the release of the updated resource estimate, targeted for the end of this month.
Furthermore, the company will review the design and permitting of the haul road connecting the Elizabeth Project to the Blackdome Mill facilities, about 30 kilometres to the north, to optimise transportation logistics and streamline operations between the two sites.
The Blackdome Mill.